During a speech opening the debate, Lord Hannett of Everton said: “We need to ensure that the legislation is passed as quickly as possible and that the right policing resources are put in place to enforce it. We need better co-ordination between the police and retailers, ensuring that these hardened career criminals can no longer leave retail workers living in fear. The committee’s report recognised the scale of the problem and the need for serious action. The introduction of the stand-alone offence is a huge milestone and, alongside the other recommendations, it will make a real difference in keeping retail workers safe. Violence and abuse are not parts of the job.”
Responding to the debate, Lord Hanson – policing minister said: “Lord Hannett brings a wealth of experience in standing up for shop workers. He is continuing that in conjunction with his Paddy Lillis, general secretary of Usdaw. It is not acceptable in our society to steal from shops; it is not acceptable to attack shop workers in the course of their duty; and it is not acceptable to undertake ram raids or organise crime raids on shops and outlets. This is not a victimless crime; it adds money to everybody’s bills and to the cost of strengthening security for staff, and this Government are committed to taking action on it. Freedom from fear is an absolutely important issue. Shop staff are not just serving us but are upholding the law on alcohol, knife, solvent and tobacco sales. When they find themselves facing threats because of that, they deserve our support. That is why the Government will bring forward a specific offence of assaulting shop workers. I have campaigned for these issues over the last 10 to 20 years and I am more than proud to stand here today and say that this Government will take action on shop theft and assaults on retail workers.”
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “We very much welcome peers’ support for Usdaw’s ‘Freedom From Fear’ campaign. This is a hugely important issue for our members, and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough. It is shocking that over two-thirds of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.
“After 14 years of successive Tory governments not delivering the change we need on retail crime, we are pleased that the new Labour Government announced a Crime and Policing Bill in the King’s Speech. This new legislation will deliver a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law; end the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; along with introducing Respect Orders for repeat offenders. The Chancellor announced in the Budget funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting and the Government has promised more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas. It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve.”
Voices from the frontline: These are some of the comments shop workers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:
- “Shoplifter grabbed my arm and scratched it. Customer told me the shop is a f**king joke and she would wipe smile off my face.”
- “Aggressive and rude, no manners, just push their way in. Blame you for things not being stocked anymore. Hit with trollies or baskets without a sorry.”
- “Customer threw items at myself and colleagues. Big gangs of youths behaving badly and refusing to leave the premises when asked to do so.”
- “Homophobic comments, threats to hurt me because I refused a sale, mocking me when asked for ID. I was once held up at knifepoint. Often told to f**k off.”
- “As I was leaving work, I was confronted by a man who came straight at me and physically hit my shoulder without any reason or motive.”
- “Threatened and attempted assault for note checking. Been asked out, he refused to take it I already have a partner. Pushed me against the wall.”
- “Sworn at regularly, particularly by young customers when asked for ID for cigarettes and energy drinks. Had bottles of medicine thrown at me.”
- “Daily personal insults. Swearing because I can’t sell them alcohol because they’re drunk. One squared up to me and threatened me with physical violence.”
- “Was asked if I wanted to get fingered. I’ve also had my buttocks smacked. People threatening to stab my colleagues.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
House of Lords debate on retail crime: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-12-05/debates/F6C3F531-E0B1-4E60-9FFC-0889E475C4DF/RetailCrimeEffects
House of Lords Library - Retail crime: Impact on workers, the community and local economies https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/retail-crime-impact-on-workers-the-community-and-local-economies/
Interim results of the Usdaw’s 2024 survey, based on 4,073 responses, show that: 69% were verbally abused, 45% were threatened. 17% of shop workers had been assaulted. Of those who were abused, threatened or assaulted, 70% said that shoplifting was the trigger, and their assessment of the underlying issues was 64% related to a drug and/or alcohol addiction. The final results of the survey will be published in March 2025.
Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers by engaging the public, shop workers and the Government.
www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Freedom-From-Fear
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion